"To learn new things, come into contact with a different culture, and, at the same time, make new friends whilst having fun - is the philosophy of our work at "Lingua Sì", the Institute of Italian Language and Culture."

Claudia Wiegleb (Direttore)

The Institute was founded in 1998 and is already well-known in many foreign countries for its services and high quality. In December 1999 the English magazine “Language Travel Magazine”, published in 80 countries and specialized in reviews about schools teaching a second language, chose Lingua Sì as school of the month. Lingua Sì cooperates with various companies, Institutes, and government bodies all over the world.  

Teachers
Our teachers are all qualified university graduates and specialists in teaching Italian as a second language. To become part of our staff, they have to attend a training course on teaching methods and techniques organized by the institute. Besides, they take part in national and international courses and seminars to keep up-dated.

The Institute is located in Orvieto, 30 metres from the Cathedral, in a wonderful 16th century monastery built by the famous architect from Orvieto, Ippolito Scalza. It is also possible to stay overnight at low prices.

In the beautiful garden of the monastery the students can attend some lessons or simply relax reading or “savouring” the Italian sun. Next to the garden are tennis courts, table tennis and five-a-side football grounds. Inside the monastery, the school puts a small library, videocassettes, TV set, internet point and minibar at the students’ disposal.

GUIDA Lingua Sì 2004
This guide and the included card intend to present not only Orvieto but also Todi. Every student will receive, together with the guide, the new card “Carta Lingua Sì 2004”, which gives the possibility of getting discounts, special offers or small gifts in various businesses and facilities in Orvieto and in Todi (for example restaurants, museums, car rental, internet points, craftsmen’s shops, cinema, swimming pool, etc.).

Our teaching method

The teaching method we have adopted is entirely communication-based; the main aim of our courses is to develop the student's communicative competence, that is the capability to communicate and, above all, to interact with native speakers.  

Our lessons involve activities such as team work, games, or role-plays, that enable the student to continuously use Italian in class. Grammar, too, is dealt in a radically different and innovative way: students are encouraged to create  hypotheses regarding the structure or function of a linguistic phenomenon. This unique approach that puts the student in the centre of the learning process, makes learning even aspects like grammar, which is often considered boring but essential, to be both fun and entertaining.    

Textbooks

The textbooks we use are among the most modern on the market, and focus on communication-based instruction. Furthermore, a wide range of original material is used to supplement textbook lessons, including newspaper and magazine articles, recordings of conversations between native speakers, Italian films, television and multimedial programmes. This material is selected by our teachers based on the student's particular interests, and is updated on a regular basis.    

Lessons  

Lessons are given Monday to Friday. Each hour of teaching corresponds to 50 minutes of instruction. Some courses include "fuori aula" (outdoor) lessons - in the centre, at the market, in an artisan's shop … - that allow students to interact with native speakers and to practise what is being studied inside the classroom. Lessons "inside" are dealing with.  

A one-to-one interview with the Course Director is held on the first day of the course in order to decide upon the most suitable level and to understand the real needs of each student, so that each course will be tailor-made to the best of our ability.  

A toast of "benvenuti" with the teachers and the team of Lingua Sì will help to create a good atmosphere to start "the work"!

1. "Standard" : 20 hrs/week - 4 hrs/day
2. "Intensivo" : 30 hrs/week - 4 hrs + 2hrs/day

3. "Standard" : 10 hrs/week - 2 hrs/week
4. "Intensivo" : 15 hrs/week - 3 hrs/week

University students are entitled to a 10% discount on our language courses when they show their university registration card to the secretary on their arrival.

NB: These discounts are not available in addition to students grants.

Financial Assistance

We offer student grants  to Universities - The Italian Departments - and to Italian Institutes of Culture abroad. Our student grants consist of a discount of  50% off a standard group 2 or 4 weeks course. To obtain a student grant, please ask your lecturer / Italian teacher  or your nearest Italian Institute of Culture.  

It is possible to obtain a student  grant in the period from March to October 2004.

 Want to win a 4-weeks-course?

Lingua Sì, celebrates its 5th year of activity and has decided to give a free 4 week language course to one of its students. Among all the students that are going to take part to our Italian language Course in 2004 one name will be drawn. The lucky winner will be able to enjoy a free 4 weeks language course (standard group) in 2005.

Good luck to all!!!